title: Dermatoglyphic analysis of autistic basque children.
abstract: We have analyzed the digital and palmar dermatoglyphics in a sample of autistic children from the Basque Country. The results have been compared with those from a control sample having the same characteristics relative to the ethnic region. We found significant differences between the digital dermatoglyphics of autistic boys and control boys. Autistic children have a higher frequency of transitional radial loops and a lower frequency of dicentric whorls; also the total finger ridge count (TFRC) and radial count are lower in autistic individuals. There were no significant differences in the girls. In palmar dermatoglyphics, autistic girls have a lower frequency of radial loops in the hypothenar area, and the value of the "atd" angle is higher than in control girls. These differences were significant. The a-b interdigital ridge count is significantly lower in autistic boys. Autistic children of both sexes have a higher frequency of aberrant palmar creases. The results obtained in the present study do not contradict the hypothesis that genetic factors may be important in autism of unknown cause.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. de Biología Animal y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Arrieta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Criado
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simón
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lostao
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006225:Hand / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain